The Long Road Out

IF. Opinion

2008-11-23T20:27:00.004Z

What's your Gender Specific Art?

I recently sold an ACEO similar to this one, titled PUNK, over the internet.

See more pictures in close up here: PUNK

The person who bought it thanked me for being 'a nice guy!'

Well I'm a middle aged woman.

I also paint Zombies, embroider dolls, make jewelry and loads of other stuff.

It got me thinking, though about how certain styles/types of art are expected to be produced by specific types, ages etc. of people.

What's your opinion?

Illustration Friday Wise

2008-11-11T15:17:00.004Z

Dreamtime Crow, a very wise bird.

This is another of my contributions to IF.
An ACEO, that stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.
These are very collectable cards, they must measures 2.5x3.5in.

This one has been published as one of a playing card deck.
All the cards in the deck have been illustrated by different artists.

You can buy the original and get a free deck
here:

Dream Time Crow

IF 'Sail' #1

2008-08-08T13:11:00.008+01:00

She's the Captain of her own ship.
She knows where she's headed, the sea may be choppy and the sky heavy and grey but come what may, she's free.
Ink & Wash on 200lb watercolour paper.

For Sale Here

2008-08-01T12:08:00.003+01:00

ACEO Ink & Wash Technique

These two ACEO's are available to buy here:

Art For Sale

IF: Worry

2008-05-23T13:10:00.003+01:00

Did she worry that one day the cracks in her would widen and the worms wiggle through into the daylight?

IF:Seed

2008-05-04T13:54:00.002+01:00

We always have seed baskets hanging from the tree in our garden, mixed seeds, some are sunflower and we always get small sunflowers growing in the gutters round the house!
Birds need bigger beaks...

IF: Primitive

2008-04-18T13:40:00.002+01:00

My idea of a Primitive or tribal female.

In the dictionary the first meaning given for primitive is 'of or belonging to the begining'

This was the image that I'd drawn with my new intense pencils, I love them and will be using them a lot more I'm sure.

A very happy begining!

The Independent Artists Group

2008-02-07T20:48:00.001Z

The Independent Artists Exhibition

My contribution below

Tuesday February 5th 2008.

The Floor One Gallery in Rugby Art Gallery and Museum.
Fifteen of the artists from the IAG group are taking part, the exhibition is curated by the artist Andrew Douse http://www.andrewdouse.co.uk/ also a member of the group.

For Illo Friday 'Little Things'

2007-12-07T17:25:00.000Z

This one is called 'Manna' as in gifts from heaven, little things perhaps.
Its that time of year when we look back on the months that have passed and take stock of our lives. I like to think that I appreciate the little things in life, even more at this time when there seems to be so much excess, especially of material things.

I have missed taking part in Illo Friday, not that I haven't be inspired but a little too busy.

IF Moon

2007-07-27T16:32:00.001+01:00

Moonchime Bird

I guess this watercolour could have been used on the last IF theme of Poem as it has one of my little rhymes written around it.

A cloak of dappled wings have I

A silver bell that chimes

And dancing neath the swelling moon

I sing enchanted rhymes

Poem for IF

2007-07-20T18:35:00.000+01:00

A Poem & Mr Solly

Molskine Pages
The first page reads:

Drink wine
this is life eternal
all this youth will give to you
'tis the time for wine, roses and drunken friends.
Be happy for this moment,
for this moment is your life.

I can't recall where it comes from or where I saw/read it.
Perhaps someone can enlighten me?

This next little ditty is my own.....I'm not sure I want to own up to that!

The poem reads:

My neighbour Mr Solly
had a lovely rubber dolly
he kept her in his garden shed.
She was soft and slightly shiny
her eyes were dark and tiny
and she slept on a little cot bed.
~~~
He was found one sunny morning
detected by his snoring
cuddled up on his little cot bed,
by an angry Mrs Solly
so disgusted by the rubber dolly
that she shot my poor neighbour dead.

Illo Friday "Discovery"

2007-07-15T13:28:00.000+01:00

I discovered Moleskine!

This is the first two pages from mine.

They are designes for fabric amlulets/fetishes/dolls.

I've made quite a few before and starting up again with these.

Prayer Flag

2007-07-15T12:58:00.000+01:00

This is my contribution to Maxi Body's project of Prayer Flags.
It is a handpainted mandala in acrylic on cotton canvas.
Maxi has several ongoing projects that anyone can contribute to and she has had several exhibitions of her collaborative projects so her blog is worth a visit.

Visit it here:

http://prayerflagproject.blogspot.com/

Paradise #2 for IF

2007-06-04T13:48:00.000+01:00

Garden Faery

This is an old collage, on board made with real pressed flowers from the garden, watercolour paint and paper images.
The female image is from the painting ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ by Hieronymus Bosch, so it’s quite fitting for IF ‘Your Paradise’.

In the British Isles there are quite a lot of myths/stories about faeries.
Perhaps these are like the genius loci, the spirit of place and the stories and descriptions are the human, imaginative response to the energy of particular local areas, springs, rivers, ancient trees etc.
Perhaps to express our longing for a lost paradise?

IF "Your Paradise"

2007-06-02T17:03:00.000+01:00

Well this is one version of paradise.

Another would be a large empty room with just soft cushions to sit on that I'd use as my meditation space.

There is something about being surrounded by emptyness that fills me.

It's mind expanding, food for the soul where the spirit can soar unhindered.

Illo Friday "Cars"

2007-05-27T22:01:00.001+01:00

Bertie, an angry little car

Not the most stimulating topic.
I thought of all the people I knew who like cars, I don't particularly, as I don't drive.
Many people give their cars names, and personalise them.
I have to admit some cars I've know where the owner gave it a name were very aply named, especially the tempermental ones......or is that just the mental ones??
When you look at some cars head on, they seem to suggest faces, don't they.

When I was a teenager, a friend Eric had a car that we all called the vampire, as when anyone new got in it, their blood was shed.

Nothing serious, I remember the first time I got in it, I reached into my bag and cut myself on an open staple in a magazine, Tracey my friend caught her nail in the fabric of the seat and it tore down to the quick, drawing blood.

It was a thirsty car.

Illo Friday "Signs" #2

2007-05-20T08:52:00.000+01:00

Digital Signs
Paper collage altered in photoshop.

I do readings for people, tarot mostly but in this image I am trying to convey how the process of a reading works and how important the signs within your body/mind are and how they are brought into play during a reading.
Yes you look to the cards, but also you look inwardly and listen to the signs coming from your body.

Sometimes it's like a stream of consciousness.
A wash of images that you see in your minds eye and it's up to the experience of the reader to interpret them.
Sometimes you get a feeling a body sensation, sometimes even pain, and you put your awareness into it and it seems to open out and more images/information flows.

When you've been reading for a few years you get to watch for the signs within and the tarot cards become secondary to a reading.

Illustration Friday "Signs"

2007-05-19T16:33:00.000+01:00

Signs (& Portents?)
Paper collage
This is a great topic for IF.
I have so many ideas I may have to submit more than one!

As soon as I saw what the topic was I thought of signs as indirect ways of communication.
The subliminal way we reveal ourselves with little gestures, tics and slips of the tongue.
In this collage the figure is feeling bleak and outside of human existance, looking inward for a sign that life will be good once again.

From "outside" the sign comes and he only has to lift his head to see hope.
Haven't we all done this at some time...waited for a sign that change will come and we will find our way once again?

In this collage I wanted to use as few paper elements as possible to create the mood and to communicate the message. So there are only 4 pieces here, the background, the figure, the hand and the leaf.

Illo Friday: Citrus

2007-05-12T11:41:00.000+01:00

Assassin:

Code Name: CITRUS

Sharp, exotic and does her thing with a zing!

Sorry but couldn't be doing with that orange & lemon stuff!

So I thought "Citrus" was a good name for a female spy, agent, or assassin.

2007-05-06T22:57:00.000+01:00

Icon II

Digital collage
This is one I did a while ago, can't remember where I posted it.
I thought I'd put it on this blog but no.....since I changed the way comments are viewed I seem to have lost them all!
Well all last years are gone, out there in cyberspace.

Illo Friday "Neighbour"

2007-05-04T20:55:00.000+01:00

The secret life of our neighbour.

------------------------------------

Paper collage altered in photoshop

"Where all is veils and shadows

and nought is as it seems

Where the regimental daisies bow

and every doorstep gleams"

Illo Friday, "Remember" #2

2007-04-29T09:09:00.000+01:00

Seeing or Remembering?

Digital collage.

The message reads:

The Universe is full of magical things

patiently waiting for our

eyes to grow sharper

Illo Friday "Remember"

2007-04-27T14:21:00.000+01:00

Collage, watercolour & ink.
One page from a collage book I am
making called "Lark"
It's been a long time in completion!
Lark is trying to remember who she is and where is came from as she is a foundling.
She looks to nature to try to understand herself and her place in the world.

Some New Stuff

2007-04-27T12:03:00.000+01:00

Small watercolour wash

The independent Artists Group Exhibition

2007-01-12T12:22:00.000Z

I am taking part in an international exhibition at the View From The Top Gallery in Nottingham as of Jan. 9th -22nd 2007.
There are 30 artist from our group taking part, I don't have any picture of my contributions yet but they will be up on this blog when I do!
Some of our members from the Independent Artist Group or IAG for short, are also holding a simultaneous exhibition on ebay, so go to ebay and typr in IAG to see whats on offer.

Tarot Collaboritive Exhibition UK

2006-12-01T13:39:00.000Z

Well long time no post!
I am currently organising the work for a collaborative exhibition that will take place in Bath during May 2007.
We need people to sign up for this and when we have a complete deck of cards we will exhibit them at the Bath Fringe Fest.2007

I'm at this moment looking into suitable space for such an exhibition.
If you are interested find details at:

The Tarot Deck Creation Collaboration

This is an exciting way to co-create a unique Tarot Deck that you can download when complete.
It is also an excellent way to get your work seen as Bath is visited by 1000's of tourists each year, esp. during it's now famous Fringe Festival.
Please take a look!!

Illo Friday "Change"

2006-09-16T11:41:00.000+01:00

Alchemy with the body as crucible. Illo for poem on alchemy.

Banksy in Bath

2006-09-02T12:27:00.000+01:00

Had a few computer problems but with that and a house move now behind me I need to get on and create some art.
Look in again soon, meanwhile here is a Banksy graf I found on a walkabout in Bath.
Enjoy!

Photo Friday "Home"

2006-05-29T13:42:00.000+01:00

Wasp Nest!

This beauty was in my garden last summer.
It was a real work of art, and looked like a delicate chinese lantern.
My plan was to wait until the wasps had vacated it and cut it down, clean it out and keep it.
Just before I had the chance to do this there was a terrific down pour of rain and it totaly ruined the nest.

Well it was beautiful while it lasted!

Spirit Home?

These two are my newest dolls/figures.
Hand dyes fabric and hand/machine embroidered with beads and other embellishment.
It is believed in some cultures that dolls may be the home of certain spirits, and often these dolls are "fed" by the person chosen to take care of them.
Incense may be lit, flowers present and gifts of food/wine or spirits left for the dolls to enjoy.

See more about them by following the link below.

Art Dolls

Illo Friday "Cake"

2006-05-27T13:37:00.000+01:00

Wedding Cake

This is one of my efforts at ceramics a few years ago.
The lower layer is a dungeon kitted out with a rack, chains and other items of torture/pleasure.

Oh dear.......what does that say about me???

Great Comic art for sale signed by the Artist Bryan Talbot

See this great artwork here:

Bryan Talbot

Photo Friday "The Road"

2006-05-21T14:31:00.000+01:00

Wet Sundays, we have so many and they make spring feel more like winter.

A new ACEO

2006-05-20T17:47:00.000+01:00

This is my latest called "Visitation"
Find her here:
Visitation

Angels and Devils for Illo Friday

2006-05-14T00:27:00.000+01:00

Angel Princess

Three Strange Angels

These three below were from a series that I did a while ago but I think they are worth showing again!

Watercolour on bristol board
Well as anyone who knows me can tell you, this is a favorite subject of mine!
For now here is an angel, pretty and I guess conventional but I will probably have some more coming up in the next few days so check back.
The one above is ink and pencil on watercolour paper.

Look for my "Strange Angel and 3 Spirit Birds" painting on ebay to.
Go here to see "Strange Angel Painting"

Another Sacred Shrine

2006-05-03T12:53:00.000+01:00

During the Easter bankholiday we went to Abbotsbury, West Dorset.
It has a lovely shingle beach and on a hill high above the village is St. Catherines Chapel.
It was built, like many other Christian churches, on top of the original Pagan Temple.
The early Christian missionaries would naturally try to choose a patron saint that continued, as closely as possible, the pagan dedication of the temple.
The closest Goddess to St. Catherine would have been 'goddess of the silver wheel', Arianrhod.

There is nothing inside, no pews, alter etc. just a dirt floor but it has a very distinct atmosphere.
They still hold services there but I guess the people just stand on the dirt floor.
Here are a few pics I took with my cell phone, so not brilliant.
Several people had left little offerings, flowers, poems and lit candles in the niches in the wall.
Below someone had left a little Icon of St. Catherine.

Albino flowers??

2006-05-03T12:28:00.000+01:00

Snakeshead Fritillery
(hope i've spelt that right!)
These are the ones that Charles Rennie Mackintosh like to paint but they are usually checkered light and dark mauve, can you get a white variety?
Anyway they are in my garden and they look great.

Illustration Friday "Under the sea"

2006-05-01T12:58:00.000+01:00

"I wish I was so far away,

on some far distant shore.

I'd cast my troubles in the deep, deep sea and be troubled by troubles no more.

Oh just to sit and watch each wave,

and wave each wave........adieu"

I wrote this poem a few years ago when I had a troubled mind.

I thought of the messages that people put in bottles and cast into the sea, I wanted to offer up my troubles to the deep and see if they would wash up on some other shore, transformed by the power of the waves, perhaps into things more positive?

I wonder how many "troubles" lay on the sea bed, slumbering?

I love the sea.

Folk Art Icon

2006-05-01T12:24:00.000+01:00

Cosmic Tears Icon

This is one of my "visionary" works, painted as a result of inner vision often as a result of deep meditation.

Here is the write up I have put on ebay, where she is up for sale:

"A gentle eyed folk style icon, an original acrylic painting on box canvas, measuring 11.7x18cm and 1.5cm in depth.

Lit with soulful inner light she addresses the viewer with a searching direct gaze.
Haloed with 5 spirals, each one orbited with three moons, she has cosmic tears that bejewel her hair.

This gentle painting, beautiful in its simplicity, has raised decoration that is not easy to show in the scans and on screen, and the “tears” in her hair glint blue and green as they catch the light adding to its charm.

This is an original work and not a print, on box canvas with small studs on the edges that secures the canvas. It is ready to hang, no need for framing making it light weight and ideal for shipping"

See more here: ICON

New ACEO's in Fabric Collage & Beads

2006-05-01T12:08:00.000+01:00

The Sentiments Series

This are the new aceo's I have on offer on ebay, they are very richly embriodered and beaded and fantastic to touch!
They are too thick to fit into a standard trading card sleeve though, not that you'd want to put them in plastic.
Bid here:

Fabric ACEO's

This is how the backs look.
Quotations printed on linen.

The Independent Artist Exhibition

2006-04-26T18:29:00.000+01:00

This is one of my paintings for the first online ebay group exhibition, taking place on Monday May 1st 2006. It's entitled "Strange Angel & 3 Spirit Birds" in acrylic on paper, see the details by clicking the link below.....or even better make a bid!!

Strange Angel

But don't forget the exhibition doesn't start untill May 1st!!

"The first ever organised exhibition to take place on an online auction site is to take place on ebay. This is a ground breaking Art event. orgainsed by members of the IAE on ebay"

Find out about the Independent Artists Group and the other exhibitors here:

My Etsy Shop

2006-04-02T18:54:00.000+01:00

Made with love XXXX
There are 8 of these little beauties up for grabs on Etsy.
They are all handmade by me, lovingly beaded and embellished brooches/lapel pins.
Rich crushed raspberry velvet & satin with golden kisses...........mmmmmmm.

My Etsy Shop

Illustration Friday "Spring"

2006-04-01T13:52:00.000+01:00

Sulis Minerva Goddess of the Ancient Hot Spring, Bath UK.
My interpretation of course! in ink & wash with acrylic liner.
The statues of her at her Temple are more Romanesque, she is a Goddess of healing, culture, war, justice and phrophecy, which is why I have drawn her with blank eyes, like the Tarot card Justice.

Soul Vision

2006-03-17T20:16:00.000Z

This is the latest copy of the Soul Vision Zine, published by Lori Shields.
In it you will find some of my art and an article that I wrote for the zine about my experience of an ancient Goddess, Sulis Minerva.
Lori says, “My vision for the zine is to creatively express soul in whatever way that manifests”

This winter edition has atc’s and goddess related art as well as other articles, poems and some great art cards all on the goddess theme.

The Soul Vision group has produced two beautiful original Tarot decks as a group collaboration as well as a goddess deck and a playing card deck, some examples can be seen in this edition.

Check it out: Soul Vision

See the one of the Tarot & Playing card deck here, under Collaborations: Soul Vision Decks

Illustration Friday "Tattoo"

2006-03-10T21:36:00.000Z

It's a bit girlie but if I was going to have a tat done it would have to be something like this.
Trouble is I don't think you can get this kind of gentle shading with ink on skin.
At one time I though t I would like a kind of tribal thingy but I don't think that would suit me now.
I once saw an amazing gometric design, fleetingly during a meditation and I spent a few frantic moments trying to scribble it down on paper, thinking "this would make an a fantastic tattoo!"
Trouble was it was slipping away from me as my awareness returned from an altered state back into reguar awareness.

Seven little maids all in a row

2006-03-09T20:02:00.000Z

I've finished!!!
Here they are waiting for the other 6 days of the week.

Art Collaboration "Mondays Child" 2006 by the ACEO UK Group

2006-03-07T17:07:00.000Z

This is Sundays Child, my contribution to the Art Card Collaboration.
It's not finished yet, what you see here is just the layout so far.....I may swap things around a bit 'till I feel I've got it right, then obviously I'll cut it to 2.5x3.5.

There are 7 of us, myself, Cat, Jan, Deb, Sally, Naj, and Niki on the ACEO UK Group are taking part.
We are creating a deck of original collaged cards illustrating the rhyme "Mondays Child"

This is it:

"Monday child is fair of face
Tuesdays child is full of grace
Wednesdays child is full of woe
Thursdays child has far to go
Fridays child works hard for a living
Saterdays child is loving and giving
but the child that is born on the sabbath day,
is bonny, bright, good and gay"

We each have a day to illustrate, then we made 7 cards exactly the same and when collated together we will all have a unique deck.

Watch out for further collaborations!

An Illustrated Poem "Winters Song"

2006-03-07T09:47:00.000Z

This was an original poem that I wrote and Illustrated for a book swap.
Here you can see some of the illustrations, not in order though.
It has 19 pages and is 10 x 14cm. approx.

I have depicted winter as a Queen of the underworld who, at the time of deep winter calls all living creatures of nature unto her.
With her lilting lullabye like the beat of the earths heart, her call lulls nature into a deep sleep, offering a safe passage through the cold dark months, through the season of death, and onward into spring when all life is reborn anew.

It's handmade from recycled materials collage, stamped and embellished with gold ink, stars and acrylic paint and backed with stiff card, they come in a deep maroon envelope and encased in a protective plastic sleeve.

I really enjoyed this project, I think there was about 11 of us in the exchange and I'd love to do another one.

Illustration Friday Topic "Insect"

2006-03-06T13:00:00.000Z

Well it started out as a cocoon, and I intended to do several stages with the final stage a beautiful moth........
I guess i'm just not wired up normal!

Recent Exhibitions UK & USA

2006-02-26T11:29:00.000Z

Two exhibitions that ran simultaneously in Feb this year.
Both with the title "Love Across The Ocean" in the UK & the other in the US.
These two cards and the one below were among some that I exhibited at the
Avram Eisen Picture This Gallery, Chicago. Exhibition curator, Susan Barton.

And at the sister exhibition at the Pavilion Cafe, Dulwich Park, Dulwich Village, London.

Curated by Sally Swingewood.
Take a look under links.

Not very "Valentine" I hear you say....well I guess not these,
these three are the only images I have at the moment of the cards I sent!

ACEO Landscapes

2006-02-22T16:19:00.000Z

I don't often venture into landscape territory so these may well be a one off!!

SOLD

Bid Here: My Art For Sale

What I have on offer at the moment

2006-02-22T15:56:00.000Z

Two ACEO's Thats "Art Cards Editions and Originals" to the uninitiated!
They are very collectable little pieces of art, in fact a collecting craze at the moment.

These are called " Egyptian Dogman" & Egyptian Dog woman"

SOLD!

Bid Here: My Art For Sale